Pressure lock arrangement for loose material



Oct. 25, 1955 E. MOHRS ETAL 2,721,666

PRESSURE LOCK ARRANGEMENT FOR LOOSE MATERIAL Filed Dec. 21, 1953 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 25, 1955 E. MOHRS ETAL 2,721,666

' PRESSURE LOCK ARRANGEMENT FOR LOOSE MATERIAL Filed Dec. 21, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors 5am wadg w Oct. 25, 1955 E. MOHRS ETAL2,721,666

PRESSURE LOCK ARRANGEMENT FOR LOOSE MATERIAL Filed D80. 21, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 3 al-MMWM Oct. 25, 1955 E. MOHRS ETAL 2,721,666

PRESSURE LOCK ARRANGEMENT FOR LOOSE MATERIAL Filed Dec. 21, 1953 4Sheets-Sheet 4 .l'm/entala' United States Patent PRESSURE LOCKARRANGEMENT F OR LOOSE MATERIAL Ernst Mohrs, Dornap, and Adolf Claus,Wuppertal-Barmen, Germany, assigncrs to Firma Rheinisch-WestfaclischeKalkwerke Akti'engesellschaft, Dornap, and Firma Maschinenfahrik AdolfCiaus, Wnppertal- Naechstebreck, Germany Application December 21, 1953,Serial No. 399,314 Claims priority, application Germany December 24,1952 20 Claims. (Cl. 214-17) The present invention relates to a pressurelock arrangement for a loose, pulverized or granular material, and moreparticularly to a pressure lock arrangement in which the loose materialis moved by vibrated troughs into and out of a pressure lock between twospaces of different pressure.

Known pressure lock arrangements for loose material, as are for instanceused with lime and cement kilns, serve the purpose of moving materialout of the kiln in which high pressure prevails, into a lower pressurespace without any loss of pressure. Similarly, lock arrangements arenecessary for supplying loose material into chambers in which positiveor negative pressure is present. According to the known arrangements thematerial passes into or out of the kiln through one of two pressurelocks which are gas-tightly closed by mechanically operated look gateswhich are opened and closed in a predetermined order. The lock gates areoperated through bevel gears, worm gears, or other transmission means.The supplied or discharged material slides along the walls of the lockchambers from one lock chamber to the other over the opening and closinglock gates. Such known arrangements have the disadvantage thatfrequently the lock gates do not close completely, which may occur whenduring the closing operation a solid body, such as a stone, jams a lockgate. Since the lock gates have to be airtightly closed, the mechanismmust be desigaed to be strong enough to close the lock gates with greatforce so that the known pressure lock arrangements for loose materialare very heavy and expensive to manufacture.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantagesof the known pressure lock arrangements for loose material, and toprovide a pressure lock arrangement which is comparatively light,operates reliably, and requires little space in vertical direction.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pressure lockarrangement in which loose material is vibrated to pass through a lock.gate.

It is a further object of the present invention to pile loose materialon a trough behind a lock gate, and to vibrate the trough to move theloose material through the opened lock gate.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide meansfor operating the lock gates, and vibrator means for the trough means ina predetermined order and sequence.

With these objects in view the present invention mainly consists in apressure lock arrangement for transferring a loose material from acontainer into a space having different pressure, and comprises, incombination, a lock chamber member mounted on a lower part of thecontainer and being formed at the upper part thereof with an inletopening communicating with the interior of the container and at thelower part thereof with an outlet opening, oscillatable delivery meanswithin the container lo cated in the region of the inlet opening andadapted to deliver loose material from the container into the lockchamber when oscillated and to withhold loose material when at astandstill, vibrator means for oscillating the oscillatable deliverymeans whenever required, first operating means for closing and openingthe inlet opening located at the upper part of the lock chamber member,and second operating means for closing and opening the outlet opening atthe lower part of the lock chamber member.

A preferred embodiment comprises first oscillatable trough meansarranged in the lower portion of the container, first vibrator means foroscillating the first trough means, a lock chamber member formed with aninlet opening in the upper part thereof communicating with the containerand being located adjacent the first trough means, and also formed withan outlet opening in the lower part thereof, a first lock gate on thelock chamber member for opening and closing the inlet opening, a secondlock gate on the lock chamber member for opening and closing the outletopening, a second oscillatable trough means located within the lockchamber member underneath the inlet opening and adapted to receive loosematerial passing through the opened first lock gate and to hold thematerial while at a standstill, the second trough means having one endlocated adjacent the outlet opening, second vibrator means connected tothe second trough means for oscillating the same so that loose materialon the trough means is moved toward the outlet opening, first and secondoperating means for alternately opening and closing the first and secondlock gates, respectively, and control means for actuating the vibratormeans and the operating means in a predetermined sequence so that thefirst lock gate is opened and the second lock gate is closed when thefirst vibrator means oscillates the first trough means and so that thesecond lock gate is opened and the first lock gate is closed when thesecond vibrator means oscillate the second trough means.

In the arrangement of the present invention the loose material is pouredonto a trough while the vibrator of the trough is not operating so thata conical pile is formed on the trough according to the angle of reposeof the material. Since the vibrator is not operated the material doesnot move, and air-tight closing of the lock gates is assured since nomaterial can get between the sealing faces of the lock gates.

All kinds of vibrators may be used in the arrangement of the presentinvention, for instance vibrators having a directed force, rotatingvibrators, compressed air vibrators, electromagnetically operatedvibrators, and mechanically operated vibrators.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a pressure lock arrangementaccording to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the arrangement;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the arrangement;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of a detail;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the detail shown in Fig. 5;

Figs. 7 and 8 are side elevations of constructive elements;

Fig. 9 is a cross section on line 99 in Fig. 6 on an enlarged scale; and

Figs. 10a to 10g are diagrammatic views illustrating consecutivepositions of the means for operating the lock gates and the vibratormeans according to the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, acontainer under pressure, such as the kiln 1 has in the lower partthereof a hopper 2 provided with an opening 3. Loose material such asfinished lime, falls into the hopper and passes through the opening 3onto a slightly inclined trough means 4. The material is retained by thetrough 4 in the tubular outlet 3 and in the hopper. The trough 4 ismounted on four resilient rubber members 7 and 8 in the casing 6 whichis part of the container 1. The rubber members 7 are secured to thelateral walls 9 of the casing 6 on suitable supports, while therearwardly arranged rubber members 8 are secured to the bottom plate 10of the casing 6. A connecting means 11 is secured to the trough means 4and passes to the outside through an opening in the wall of the casing6. A sealing sleeve 12 air-tightly seals the casing 6 at the point wherethe connecting means 11 passes through the wall. A vibrator means 13 issecured to the outer end of the connecting means 11, and producesoscillations of the trough means 4, when actuated. Preferably the bottomplate 10 is detachable so that the kiln and the trough 4 are accessiblewhen the bottom plate 10 is removed.

A lock chamber member 16 is secured to the container 1, and communicateswith the container through the inlet opening which is closed and openedby a first lock gate 5. The lock chamber member 16 has an outlet opening18 which is closed by a second lock gate 18. Hinges 14 pivotally supportthe lock gates which provide an air-tight seal of the lock chamber 16.When the first lock gate 5 is opened and the vibrator 13 is started bymeans which will be described in greater detail hereinafter, thevibration of the trough means 4 effects movement of the material piledup on the trough 4 so that the material passes through the inlet opening5' into the interior of the lock chamber member 16 and is piled up on asecond trough means 17 onto which it is guided by a hopper 19. Members7, 8, 11, 12' and 14 corresponding to the members 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 and14 of the trough means 4 are associated with the trough means 17, butonly partly shown in the drawing.

When the used material has been transferred by the vibrated trough means4 into the lock chamber member 16, the vibration of the trough means 4is stopped, and the lock gate 5 is closed. Further material falling outof the kiln 1 is again retained in the hopper 2, and on the trough 4.

After the lock gate 5 has been closed, the lock gate 18 is opened, andthereupon the vibrator means 20 started so that the loose material piledup on the trough means 17 in the lock chamber member 16 is moved throughthe outlet 18, whereupon the vibrator 20 is stopped, and then the lockgate 18 closed.

After closure of the lock gate 18, the lock gate 5 is opened, thevibrator 13 started, and the loose material piled up on the trough 4 inthe meantime, is moved through the inlet opening 5 into the interior ofthe lock chamber member 16.

The arrangement is preferably supported by a frame 21 consisting ofbeams. The cover sheet 22 closes the kiln 1 air-tightly. A manhole 23 isprovided in the cover sheet 22. The hopper 2 is reinforced by members24.

From the above description it will be apparent that loose material canbe transferred by the oscillatable delivery means 4 through the openinlet 5' into the lock chamber 16 from where the material passes throughoutlet 18 into a space having a pressure different from the pressure inthe container 1 when the outlet 18' is opened by suitable operatingmeans.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the lockgates 5 and 18 are operated by servo motors. The drive and control meansfor the arrangement are illustrated in Fig. 3. On a base plate 25 whichis mounted on supports 26, a motor 27 is mounted which drives through adrive shaft 29 a compressor 30. A pinion 31 is driven through worm gearmeans 28 from shaft 29 and meshes with gear means on the periphery of arotary member 32 which is shown in Figs. 5 and 6 on an enlarged scale.

On one side of the rotary member 32 are mounted toothed segments 33 and34. The toothed segment 33 is fixedly secured while the peripheralposition of segment 34 can be adjusted. Corresponding toothed segments35 and 36 are attached to the other side of the rotary member 32, thesegment 36 being adjustable.

The control members 39 and 40 which effect closing and opening of thelock gates 5 and 18 by means which will be described in greater detailhereinafter, are connected for rotation with the pinions 37 and 38,respectively. During one rotation of the rotary member 32 the pinions 37and 38, respectively are twice turned through an angle of whereby acorresponding turning of the control members 39 and 40 is effected.

The rotary member 32 has a first set of bores 59 arranged in a circleand engaged by the pins 60 of the adjustable toothed segments 34 and 36which are held on the rotary member by nut and bolt means 61 passingthrough bores 62. Consequently, the peripheral position of theadjustable toothed segments 34 and 36 can be changed for adjusting thetime passing between actuation of the control members 39 and 40, whichin turn effect operation of the lock gates 5 and 18.

The pinions 37 and 38 are preferably exchangeable gears, and are mountedon the shaft 39 by groove and key means 66. A manually operated crankmember 65 is attached to the shaft 39' and permits manual operation ofthe arrangement.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated inFigs. 1, 2 and 3, the lock gates 5 and 18 are operated by servo motors44 and 48 which are operated by compressed air produced by thecompressor 30. The control valve 39 is arranged in the conduit meansconnecting the compressor with the servo motor means 44, and the controlvalve 40 is arranged in the conduit means connecting the compressor withthe servo motor means 48. Servo motor means 44 and 48 comprise servomotors arranged on both sides of the associated lock gates. Thecompressed air passes through the conduit 41 to the control valves 39and 40. The control valve 39 controls the conduits 42 and 43 for movingthe servo piston of the servo motor 44 in opposite directions. Thecontrol valve 40 controls the conduits 46 and 47 for moving the pistonof the servo motor 48 in opposite directions, the air being dischargedthrough the conduit 49. The pistons of the servo motors 44 and 48operate the connecting rods 51 and 51 which are guided in guiding means52 and 52. Members 53, 53' connect the rods 51, 51' with arms 54, 54which are pivoted to the lock gates 5 and 18, respectively. By shiftingof the member 53 on the rod 51 the pressure effecting closing of therespective lock gates can be adjusted. The packing member 56 seals theconnecting rod 51, and prevents passing of air out of the lock chamber16.

Preferably the return conduits 45 and 49 are so arranged that the airpassing out of the same blows against the associated connecting rods 51,51 for removing dust. A safety valve or an air reservoir may beconnected with the conduit 41. The compressor 30 may be replaced byanother source of compressed air.

Instead of the compressor 30, a pump may be provided which circulates anoperating liquid for actuating the servo motor means 44 and 48. In thisevent the return conduit 45 and 49 have to be connected to an oilcontainer to provide a closed circulation.

In order to obtain the desired sequence in the operation of thevibrators 13 and 20 with the operating means for the lock gates, cammeans 57 and 63 are secured to the shaft 39' and 40', see Figs. 5 and 6.During rotation of the control valves 39 and 40 the earns 57 and 63operate actuating means 58 and 64 'for the vibrators 13 and 20.Preferably the vibrators are operated by electromagnet means, not shown,and in this event the members 58 and 64 operate switches for startingand stopping the associated vibrator means 13 and 20. v

The pressure lock arrangement according to the present inventionoperates in the following manner:

In the position shown in Fig. 10a the control valves 39 and 40 are inpositions in which both lock gates and 18 are closed. The rotatingmember 32 effects in the position of Fig. b turning of the control valve39 into a position resulting in opening of the lock gate 5. In theposition of Fig. 100 the cam means 57 effects operation of the actuatingmeans 58 so that the vibrating means 13 are started and move loosematerial through the open lock gate 5 into the lock chamber 16 where itis received by the trough 17 and piles up on the same. Further rotationof the rotating member 32 effects closing of lock gates 5 as shown inFig. 10d, whereupon the toothed segment 35 turns the control val've 38and effects opening of the lock gate 18, Fig. lbe. There'upon the cam'63 actuates the actuating means 64 of the vibrator means 20, Fig. 10),so that the trough 17 is oscillated and moves the material piled upthereon through the open outlet 18'. Further rotation of the member 32effects closing of the lock gate 18 whereupon the sequence of operationis repeated. 7

As described above, the toothed segment 34 and 36 can be mounted on therotary member 32 in a plurality of positions which are peripherallydisplaced with respect to the fixed toothed segments 33 and 35. A changeof the position of the adjustable toothed segments 34 and 35 does notinfluence the sequence of operation of the servo motors 44 and 48, butinfluences the operating times. The intervals between the positions 10dand 10s, and between the positions 10a and 10b are extended for the sametime as the oscillating time of the vibrator means is shortened. Sincethe rotary member 32 is divided in 24 sectors, the operating time foreach operation is one-twenty-fourth of the time required for onerevolution of the member 32, assuming that the toothed segments 33-36have a length corresponding to a quarter of the periphery of the pinions37 and 38 and turn the same through 90.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofpressure lock arrange ments differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in apressure lock arrangement in which loose material piled on troughs ismoved through lock gates by vibration of the troughs, it is not intendedto be limited to the details shown, since various modifications andstructural changes may be made without departing in any way from thespirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range equivalence of the followingclaims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Pressure lock arrangement for transferring loose material from acontainer into a space having a pressure different from the pressurewithin said container, comprising, in combination, a lock chamber membermounted on a lower part of said container and being formed at the upperpart thereof with an inlet opening communicating with the interior ofsaid container and at the lower part thereof with an outlet opening;oscillatable delivery means within said container located in the regionof said inlet opening and adapted to deliver loose material from saidcontainer into said lock chamber when oscillated and to withhold loosematerial when at a standstill; vibrator means for oscillating saidoscillatable delivery means whenever required; first operating means forclosing and opening said inlet opening located at the upper part of saidlock chamber member; and second operating means for closing and openingsaid outlet opening at the lower part of said lock chamber member.

2. Pressure lock arrangement for transferring loose material from acontainer into a space having a pressure different from the pressurewithin said container, comprising, in combination, a lock chamber membermounted on a lower part of said container and being formed at the upperpart thereof with an inlet opening communicating with the interior ofsaid container and at the lower part thereof within an outlet opening;oscillatable delivery means within said container located in the regionof said inlet opening and adapted to deliver lo'o's'e material from saidcontainer into said lock chamber when oscillated and to withhold loosematerial when at a standstill; vibrator means for oscillating saidoscillatable delivery means Whenever required; first operating means forclosing and opening said inlet opening located at the upper part of saidlock chamber member; second operating means for closing and opening saidoutlet opening at the lower part of said lock chamber member; andcontrol means for operating said first and second operating means, andsaid vibrator means in a predetermined sequence.

3. Pressure lock arrangement for transferring loose material from acontainer into a space having a pressure different from the pressurewithin said container, comprising, in combination, a lock chamber membermounted on a lower part of said container and being formed at the upperpart thereof with an inlet opening communicating with the interior ofsaid container and at the lower part thereof with an outlet opening;oscillatable delivery means within said container located in the regionof said inlet opening and adapted to deliver loose material from saidcontainer into said lock chamber when oscillated and to withhold loosematerial when at 'a standstill; vibrator means for oscillating saidoscillatable delivery means whenever required; first operating means forclosing and opening said inlet opening located at the upper part of saidlock chamber member; second operating means for closing and opening saidoutlet opening at the lower part of said lock chamber member; drivemeans; a rotary member driven by said drive means; at least two spacedtoothed segments on the periphery of said rotary member; a firstturnable control member for operating said first operating means; asecond turnable control member for operating said second operatingmeans; a first pinion connected to said first control member for turningtherewith; a second pinion connected to said second control member forturning therewith, said first and second pinions being engaged andturned by said toothed segments during rotation of said rotary memberfor alternately turning said control members; a cam means connected forrotation to said first control member; and an actuating means forstarting and stopping said vibrator means projecting into the path ofsaid cam means, said cam means eifecting start of said vibrator meanswhen said first control member effects opening of said inlet opening.

4. Pressure lock arrangement for transferring loose material from acontainer into a space having a pressure different from the pressurewithin said container, comprising, in combination, a lock chamber membermounted on a lower part of said container and being formed at the upperpart thereof with an inlet opening communieating with the interior ofsaid container and at the lower part thereof with an outlet opening;oscillatable delivery means within said container located in the regionof said inlet opening and adapted to deliver loose material from saidcontainer into said lock chamber when oscillated and to withhold loosematerial when at a standstill; vibrator means for oscillating saidoscillatable delivery means whenever required; first fluid operatedservo motor means for closing and opening said inlet opening located atthe upper part of said lock chamber member; second fluid operated servomotor means for closing and opening said outlet opening at the lowerpart of said lock chamber member; drive means; a rotary member driven bysaid drive means; at least two spaced toothed segments on the peripheryof said rotary member; a source of operating pressure fluid; conduitmeans connecting said source of pressure fluid with said first andsecond servo motor means; a first turnable control valve in said conduitmeans for operating said first servo motor means; a second turnablecontrol valve for operating said second servo motor means; a firstpinion connected to said first control valve for turning therewith; asecond pinion connected to said second control valve for turningtherewith, said first and second pinions being engaged and turned bysaid toothed segments during rotation of said rotary member foralternately turning said control valves; a cam means connected forrotation to said first control valve; and an actuating means forstarting and stopping said vibrator means projecting into the path ofsaid cam means, said cam means effecting start of said vibrator meanswhen said first control valve effects opening of said inlet opening.

5. A pressure lock arrangement for transferring a loose material betweenspaces having different pressures, comprising, in combination, a lockchamber member formed with an inlet opening in the upper part thereof,and with an outlet opening in the lower part thereof; a first lock gateon said lock chamber member for opening and closing said inlet opening;a second lock gate on said lock chamber member for opening and closingsaid outlet opening; an oscillatable trough means located within saidlock chamber member underneath said inlet opening and adapted to receiveloose material passing through the opened first lock gate and to holdthe material while at a standstill, said trough means having one endlocated adjacent said outlet opening; vibrator means connected to saidtrough means for oscillating the same so that loose material on saidtrough means is moved toward said outlet opening; first and secondoperating means for alternately opening and closing said first andsecond lock gates, respectively; and control means for actuating saidvibrator means and said operating means in a predetermined sequence sothat said first lock gate is closed and said second lock gate is openedwhen said vibrator means oscillates said trough means.

6. A pressure lock arrangement for transferring a loose material betweenspaces having different pressures, comprising, in combination, a lockchamber member formed with an inlet opening in the upper part thereof,and with an outlet opening in the lower part thereof; a first lock gateon said lock chamber member for opening and closing said inlet opening;a second lock gate on said lock chamber member for opening and closingsaid outlet opening; an oscillatable trough means located within saidlock chamber member underneath said inlet opening and adapted to receiveloose material passing through the opened first lock gate and to holdthe material while at a standstill, said trough means having one endlocated adjacent said outlet opening; vibrator means connected to saidtrough means for oscillating the same so that loose material on saidtrough means is moved toward said outlet opening; first and secondoperating means for alternately opening and closing said first andsecond look gates, respectively.

7. A pressure lock arrangement for transferring a loose material from acontainer into a space having a pressure different from the pressurewithin said container, comprising, in combination, first oscillatabletrough means arranged in the lower portion of said container; firstvibrator means for oscillating said first trough means;

a lock chamber member formed with an inlet opening in the upper partthereof communicating with said container and being located adjacentsaid first trough means, and also formed with an outlet opening in thelower part thereof; a first lock gate on said lock chamber member foropening and closing said inlet opening; a second look gate on said lockchamber member for opening and closing said outlet opening; a secondoscillatable trough means located within said lock chamber memberunderneath said inlet opening and adapted to receive loose materialpassing through the opened first lock gate and to hold the materialwhile at a standstill, said second trough means having one end locatedadjacent said outlet opening; second vibrator means connected to saidsecond trough means for oscillating the same so that loose material onsaid trough means is moved toward said outlet opening; first and secondoperating means for alternately opening and closing said first andsecond lock gates, respectively; and control means for actuating saidvibrator means and said operating means in a predetermined sequence sothat said first lock gate is opened and said second lock gate is closedwhen said first vibrator means oscillates said first trough means and sothat said second lock gate is opened and said first lock gate is closedwhen said second vibrator means oscillates said second trough means.

8. A pressure lock arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein saidvibrator means are located outside of said container and of said lockchamber member; and including a connecting means connecting,respectively, said first and second vibrator means with said first andsecond trough means, and passing through the walls of said container andof said lock chamber member; and sealing means for airtightly sealingsaid connecting means and said container and lock chamber member.

9. A pressure lock arrangement for transferring a loose material from acontainer into a space having a pressure different from the pressurewithin said container, compris- I ing, in combination, firstoscillatable trough means arranged in the lower portion of saidcontainer; first vibrator means for oscillating said first trough means;a lock chamber member formed with an inlet opening in the upper partthereof communicating with said container and being located adjacentsaid first trough means, and also formed with an outlet opening in thelower part thereof; a first lock gate on said lock chamber member foropening and closing said inlet opening; a second lock gate on said lockchamber member for opening and closing said outlet opening; a secondoscillatable trough means located within said lock chamber memberunderneath said inlet opening and adapted to receive loose materialpassing through the opened first lock gate and to hold the materialwhile at a standstill, said second trough means having one end locatedadjacent said outlet opening; second vibrator means connected to saidsecond trough means for oscillating the same so that loose material onsaid trough means is moved toward said outlet opening; first and secondoperating means for alternately opening and closing said first andsecond lock gates, respectively; drive means; a rotary member driven bysaid drive means; at least two spaced toothed segments on the peripheryof said rotary member; a first turnable control member for operatingsaid first operating means; a second turnable control member foroperating said second operating means; a first pinion connected to saidfirst control member for turning therewith; a second pinion connected tosaid second control member for turning therewith, said first and secondpinions being engaged and turned by said toothed segments duringrotation of said rotary member for alternately turning said controlmembers; two cam means connected for rotation to said first controlmember and to said second control member, respectively; first and secondactuating means for starting and stopping said first and second vibratormeans, each actuating means projecting into the path of one of said cammeans, said cam means effecting start of the associated vibrator meanswhen the lock gate associated with the respective vibrator means isopened by the control member associated therewith.

10. A pressure lock arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein saidvibrator means are electromagnetically operated and wherein saidactuating means are switches.

11. A pressure lock arrangement as claimed in claim 9 and including twoother spaced toothed segments on the periphery of said rotary member foroperating each of said control members twice during each rotation ofsaid rotary member.

12. A pressure lock arrangement as claimed in claim 11 wherein said twoother spaced toothed segments are detachably mounted on said rotarymember for adjusting the peripheral position thereof.

13. A pressure lock arrangement for transferring a loose material from acontainer into a space having a pressure different from the pressurewithin said container, comprising, in combination, first oscillatabletrough means arranged in the lower portion of said container; firstvibrator means for oscillating said first trough means; a lock chambermember formed with an inlet opening in the upper part thereofcommunicating with said container and being located adjacent said firsttrough means, and also formed with an outlet opening in the lower partthereof; a first lock gate on said lock chamber member for opening andclosing said inlet opening; a second lock gate on said lock chambermember for opening and closing said outlet opening; a secondoscillatable trough means located within said lock chamber memberunderneath said inlet opening and adapted to receive loose materialpassing through the opened first lock gate and to hold the materialwhile at a standstill, said second trough means having one end locatedadjacent said outlet opening; second vibrator means connected to saidsecond trough means for oscillating the same so that loose material onsaid trough means is moved toward said outlet opening; first and secondservomotor means for alternately opening and closing said first andsecond lock gates, respectively; a source of operating fluid; conduitmeans connecting said source of fluid with said first and secondservomotor means; drive means; a rotary member driven by said drivemeans; at least two spaced toothed segments on the periphery of saidrotary member; a first turnable control valve and a second turnablecontrol valve located in said conduit for operating, respectively, saidfirst and second servomotor means; first and second pinions connectedrespectively to said first and second control valves for turningtherewith, said pinions being engaged and turned by said segments duringrotation of said rotary member for alternately turning said controlmember; two cam means connected for rotation to said first and secondcontrol valves, respectively; first and second actuating means forstarting and stopping said first and second vibrator means, eachactuating means projecting into the path of one of said cam means, saidcam means effecting start of the associated vibrator means when the lockgate associated with the respective vibrator means is opened by thecontrol member associated therewith.

14. A pressure lock arrangement as claimed in claim 13 wherein saidsource of operating pressure fluid is a compressor driven by said drivemeans.

15. A pressure lock arrangement as claimed in claim 14 wherein saidconduit has outlet openings for air supplied by said compressor, saidoutlet opening being arranged opposite said servomotor means and fordirecting a cleaning air stream toward the same.

16. A pressure lock arrangement as claimed in claim 13 wherein saidsource of operating fluid is a pump driven by said drive means andcirculating an operating liquid in said conduit means.

17. A pressure lock arrangement as claimed in claim 13 wherein saidsource of operating fluid is a compressor; a drive shaft connecting saiddrive means with said compressor; a pinion on said drive shaft; gearmeans fixed on said rotary member and meshing with said pinion so thatsaid rotary member is driven from said drive means.

18. A pressure lock arrangement as claimed in claim 13 and includingmanually operated means connected to said rotary member for rotating thesame.

19. A pressure lock arrangement as set forth in claim 7 and includingmanually operated means connected to said control means for operatingthe same.

20. A pressure lock arrangement as set forth in claim 9 and includingmanually operated means connected to one control member of said firstand second control members for turning the respective control member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

